the containment of numbers

the containment of numbers

unlike capitalism

with its military borders
and strategies of suppression

i gave it all away

offered skin breath blood
miracles & embryos

the moon circled quickly

like a dog protecting kin
or chasing tail

my kindness did backbends

building & rebuilding that bridge
fixing, moderating, policing, misunderstanding

the long haul is full of undesirable tasks

halfway, actually much farther,
i stood steady on the arch

witnessing

stars dancing into the rain
your bomb split the sky

in two or more lifetimes

trauma without apology
you emerged a proud patriot

from fire i fell

into wind then water
like trash blown towards the river

the voice underneath made itself known

refuse! to believe in divine indifference
commit! to the current of cold pain

my skin finds itself

waterproof, my blood
constructed out of fire

i had chosen you each day

two thousand four
hundred and fifty two of them

backwards counting to dedicate myself i

speak! into the jar
millions of moments, each time

reflect!  reclaim!  return!

the lid as
each day

i am through

11/26/11